ALAMEDA — The Raiders’ top two cornerbacks from the start of last season remain with the team, but TJ Carrie and DJ Hayden just wrapped up the offseason program focused mostly on playing nickel back or with the second-team defense.

Thanks to the acquisition of prized free agent Sean Smith and last year’s scrap heap waiver claim of David Amerson, the Raiders feel good about their cornerback group.

Carrie, a former seventh-round pick, can now be banked on as a versatile secondary piece. He can back up both cornerback spots, play in packages with extra defensive backs and also handle some safety after shifting to that position for several games last season.

Hayden, long viewed as a bust as the No. 12 overall pick in 2013, has a chance to play with reduced pressure now that he’s more in the background and has a strong veteran like Smith to lean on.

As the team wrapped up its minicamp last week, coach Jack Del Rio made a point to praise Hayden — who figures to get the first shot at earning the team’s top nickel back job — for his work during the offseason.

“He had a really good spring,” Del Rio said of Hayden. “I’m excited about his development. I saw a point earlier in the offseason where Sean was being questioned about the other DBs and I think he said, ‘Hey, you have a chance to redefine yourself.’ I really believe that.

“As a player, it’s never too late. You can redefine yourself, turn the corner and peel labels off that maybe people have for you and create your own. I feel like he’s on his way to doing that this year.”

That Hayden and Carrie can slide into reserve roles is a testament not only to the Smith signing, but the surprise and sudden emergence of Amerson last season.

He too was fighting his own bust label. Taken in the second round of the same draft as Hayden in 2013 by Washington, Amerson had a decent first year that included a pick-six against the Raiders at the Coliseum.

But his second season was a disaster. Pro Football Focus charged him with allowing 10 receiving touchdowns and graded him among the worst cover corners in the league. Washington released him two games into last season.

“To be honest, it was just something I was prepared for,” Amerson said. “When I got released …, I knew wherever I went — it ended up being here — I had to come in and make a statement. So that was my whole mindset throughout the season.”

Amerson’s statement was that he was molding into one of the best young corners in the league. PFF named him its most improved player. In 104 passes thrown his way (sixth-most in the league), he allowed just one touchdown and finished second in the NFL with 25 passes defended.

He’s being certain not to dwell too much on those successes.

“You’ve got to put last year behind and just improve as a player,” Amerson said. “Come out here, definitely don’t try to act like you know everything, because I know I don’t. There’s a lot of places I know I need to get better at and address those areas and just work and live with the results.”

Amerson’s goal is to become a more physical corner and the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder should get a good lesson in that category from the 6-3, 218-pound Smith.

Amerson was targeted a lot last year until teams finally started to slow down at going his way late in the season. But with Smith, an eight-year veteran and well-established player on the other side, he expects to see plenty of action this year and looks forward to it.

“It’s more opportunities to make plays,” he said. “As a corner, you can never be scared of the ball coming your way.”

As much as Amerson is looking forward to playing with Smith, the feeling is mutual.

“He’s one of the most athletic people I’ve ever met,” Smith said of Amerson. “D.A. can make all the cuts, all the breaks. I’m definitely looking forward to working with him.”